Wright stars in England win

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Pallekele - Steven Finn took 3-16 and Luke
Wright notched an aggressive 76 to help England beat New Zealand by six
wickets in the Super Eights group one match in the World Twenty20 on Saturday.

Wright smashed five sixes and as many boundaries off
43 balls and added 89 for the third wicket with Eoin Morgan (30) as
England comfortably chased down a modest target of 149 in 18.5 overs at
Pallekele stadium.

Wright and Morgan, who hit a four and a six,
made sure the defending champions cross the line after losing openers
Craig Kieswetter (four) and Alex Hales (22) by the seventh over.

Wright
hit two sixes off Tim Southee to reach his half-century off just 33
balls and then smashed two more off part-timer Rob Nicol to bring
England within 23 runs of victory.

Even after Morgan and Wright fell in quick succession, the target was never out of reach.

The
victory gives England, who lost to the West Indies in their opening
match by 15 runs, a chance to stay in the tournament. New Zealand, who
lost to Sri Lanka will be out if West Indies beat the hosts later
Saturday.

England captain Stuart Broad expressed delight at his team's win.

"It's
nice to bounce back. Finn set the tone with the new ball. The wicket
was a lot drier and it did turn a bit. We now have a huge game on
Monday," said Broad of the game against Sri Lanka which will decide
their semi-final fate.

Taylor felt the target was not enough.

"I
thought it was a decent score but no enough at the end of the day. We
had our moments but we couldn't capitalise on them," said Taylor.

Earlier,
James Franklin scored 50 before he was run out in the final over to
help New Zealand, who won the toss, to 148-6 in their 20 overs.

Franklin hit four boundaries and two sixes off 33 deliveries.

New
Zealand were in a spot of bother at 67-4 in the 12th over before
skipper Ross Taylor (22)and Franklin lifted them with a 40-run stand.

Finn
provided a double breakthrough, dismissing Martin Guptill (five) in the
second over of the innings before having dangerman Brendon McCullum in
his next, caught at third man off a miscued shot for ten.

It
became 43-3 when Nicol was caught at deep square leg, trying to lift
off-spinner Graeme Swann who finished with 1-20 off his four overs.

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